From January 1,2019, the British Embassy Bangkok will no longer be providing British Nationals with letters confirming their income. This letter has previously served as a supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa. The British Embassy Bangkok is stopping the certification of income letters because it is unable to fulfil the Thai authorities’ requirements to verify the income of British Nationals.

British Nationals should now demonstrate that they have an amount of at least 800,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand for a retirement visa. For a marriage visa, the amounts are 400,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand. A bank statement should be used as the supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa.

All British Nationals concerned should note that the last date for income letter applications is 12 December 2018.

Earlier the Immigration (in Bangkok) had asked for letter from embassy and proof of regular transfers from abroad by a letter from the bank. If the Immigration will be happy with the proof of regular transfers from abroad, that's fine. The loosers will be the Thai banks with their fees for withdrawal with foreign ATM cards.

The information below is based on reports from Expats using the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office

IF YOU USE BAHT IN THAI BANK TO QUALIFY FOR RETIREMENT EXTENSION RENEWAL We have received reports from members who keeps the 800,000 baht on deposit in a separate Thai bank account for the purpose of meeting Retirement extension requirements have been told by Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration that: It must show some recent activity to be acceptable. If this applies to you, we suggest that at the time you get your Bank letter, you deposit/withdraw some funds to the account BUT be sure not to let the account balance drop below the 800,000. Two reports in March with latest being March 22, 2018, is that this was required by the Immigration Officer even though they had a transaction a few weeks (first report) and a few days (second report) before they made application and they had to go to their bank, make a transaction, update their passbook, and obtain a new Bank letter. The bank letter must not be more than 3 days old. A report on March 9, 2017 is that Immigration now requires the “bank letter” be no more than 3 days old. But note that there have been recent reports that the Immigration Officer insisted it be the same date as the application.We have always recommended that the bank letter be obtained the preceding business day before making the application.Foreign currency account. A report on, April 23, 2017, is that a Foreign currency account at a Thai bank is acceptable so long as there are no restrictions on withdrawal of funds.

Following yesterday’s announcement from the British Embassy in Bangkok that they will no longer issue certification of income letters to British Nationals who require it as a supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa extension of stay, the internet exploded with outrage.

being reported by several media outlets - this from Thailand Lifestyle@ twitter.com

I just received this email from the US Embassy office in Thailand stating that they will no longer provide income affidavit for the purpose of visas in Thailand. It seems they are following suit with the UK...

My extension of stay is still 6 month away, but I have already opened a bank account in my name only, to which I will transfer money from Germany every month. I expect, the immigration to make problems, if I keep using the joint account my wife and I have since 25 years. I've heard stories, that the immigration asks for double the amount, if it is in a joint account.

Thai immigration have confirmed the new requirements for foreigners when applying for an extension of stay based on retirement, marriage or being a parent to a Thai child.

The updated requirements, seen by Thaivisa, are detailed in a national police order dated 26 December 2018 and signed by immigration chief Lt Gen Surachet Hakparn.

An unofficial translation of the updated requirements are as follows:

2.18 In the case of family member (mother, father, male or female spouse, child, adopted child or child of spouse) with Thai nationality. Can be authorized for not more than 1 year.

Process

Evidence of annual income that equates to no less than B40,000 per month of alien father, mother or spouse such as.

1. Tax receipts of the supporting relative. (Presumably Thai tax receipts for a foreigner working in Thailand supporting foreign spouse, parent or child, e.g. you have a Thai wife and support your mother or non-Thai child from a previous marriage living in Thailand).

2. Evidence of a pension. Letter of certification from a Thai bank supported by bank statements showing a pension being transferred to the pensioner’s bank account every month for at least 12 months. Exceptions are allowed for those who have been retired for less than one year – example given.

3. Evidence of income from a foreign embassy or consulate.

2.22

For retirement extensions of no more than 1 year evidence of average monthly income of B65,000 is required.

1. Evidence of pension. Same as 2 above,

2. Evidence of income from a foreign embassy or consulate.

The changes are that applicants must be able to show income going into a Thai bank account and that income proof from an embassy (providing your embassy still issues income letters) will still be accepted.

The document is the first official confirmation from Thai immigration regarding the aforementioned extensions of stay (more commonly referred to as retirement and marriage visas) after it was announced in October that several embassies including those of the UK, Australia and United States, would no longer be issuing income letters or affidavits to expats in Thailand.

The income letters had been used by expats to confirm their income when applying for a retirement or marriage extension.

The embassies announced they would stop issuing the letters in January 2019 because Thai immigration wanted them to start officially verifying the income of everyone applying for the letter.

An unconfirmed report submitted by Thaivisa member bkk6060 stated that immigration are likely to offer some leeway to foreigners with regards to submitting 12 months worth of statements for the first applications under the new requirements.

However, from 2020 applicants will need to make sure they are able to show a full 12 months worth of income coming to a Thai bank account.

This infographic from the British Embassy Bangkok details how to open a bank account in Thailand. The requirements for opening a Bangkok in Thailand are likely to be the same for most foreign nationals, although individual branches may require additional documentation.

A certified version in English of the new requirements will be posted on Thaivisa shortly.

Many thanks to Tod Daniels, Arkady, Ubon Joe and BadBanker @ thaivisa .com for the information.

I'd intended to transfer B65K monthly into the Thai Bank A/C I use for ImmiG purposes. (I have another Thai A/C to receive monies from the UK so I can move it in from there).

Elsewhere a scurrilous suggestion was made that moneys might be withdrawn again and reinput as deposits to meet the B65K monthly.

TT I guess the B400K/B800K on deposit for 2/3 months will still be OK.

This was some comfort as Jan 2019 will be the first month I can deposit the B65K - ''An unconfirmed report stated that immigration are likely to offer some leeway to foreigners with regards to submitting 12 months worth of statements for the first applications under the new requirements. However, from 2020 applicants will need to make sure they are able to show a full 12 months worth of income coming to a Thai bank account.''

Thanks again Thaiga - I'll pass this on elsewhere and hope you don't mind.Glad to see you posting and thanks again.

I'd be moving B65K monthly from BKK to Krungthai. I just looked at my Bank Books and can't see that the origin of each payment received has been noted at all - (of course it might be noted on a printed Bank Statement).

Whether the B65K has to come in from abroad each time is a moot point.

I'll proceed with my 'hopes' and let you know The encouraging point is that ImmiG seem to be thinking it out in workable ways atm . . .

I'd be moving B65K monthly from BKK to Krungthai. I just looked at my Bank Books and can't see that the origin of each payment received has been noted at all - (of course it might be noted on a printed Bank Statement).

Can't tell you about Krungthai Bank, but at Bangkok Bank it is indicated in the passbook as FTT for Foreign Transfer Transaction.

Thanks Johnnie. I'm at ImmiG Wednesday for a 90 day, so will discuss with my friendly Officer. Hopefully funds arriving ex BKK in Krungthai will be OK but if not - I'll have to change my plan ! Will advise. And thanks again Thaiga for the 'heads up'.

Johnnie - you are right on that - (as you usually are on these matters). From 'Thai Visa' . . . .

''CONFIRMED: Here is exactly what’s needed for retirement & marriage extensions (income method) from 2019. An official English translation of the national police order confirming the documentation required by Thai immigration'' . . . .

and the words used about the 'Retirement' basis - ''bank statement showing money transfer every month from overseas for the past 12 months''.

So that's that, (unless a compromise appears later). My change of plan is already in place. We all have to get this right, in January, which will be the first month this IS required under the changes.

Like some others, I don't have B800K on deposit so I'll transfer in B65K per month. (Married Visa is still B400K or B40K per month).

Thanks Thaiga. So an 'Income letter' will be accepted by ImmiG, but surely that's only for those Nationals whose Embassies will still issue the letter, eg Norway, Holland. But UK, USA, Australia Nationals, will need to give evidence of B40K/B65K pm coming into a Thai Bank from overseas? (excepting now, 'Married' visa evidence can be a tax receipt).

The letter says that ImmiG have 'adjusted the requirements' - does that mean that they are asking the UK and USA Embassies now for less ? So those Embassies may be announcing the resumption of 'Income Letters' soon?

(Re. the 'Married' visa, I see a 'personal income tax form with receipt' is added as 'evidence' - but not for 'retirement' visa ?)

Note on Line 6, to proceed in . . . inconsistent procedures ?? Maybe that's consistent or in consistent procedures?

Hi roger in answer to your question, income letters, its so untidy and more work for them, imo i think they will revert back. there was a meeting 2 days ago the subject of 90 days and 10 yr visas was mentioned, could be some changes there.

anything comes up, i will let you know one way or other.

Keep in touch Thaiga

EDITED 14:18 time from LawrenceN t/v Posted Tuesday at 05:55 PM

I promised I would report after extending my retirement visa (yes, we all know it's not really called that). I successfully extended my visa today at Chiang Mai.

I arrived about 9am. I was in for a re-entry permit a couple of weeks ago and was told by that friendly male supervisor that it was no longer necessary to queue before dawn. I got a queue number and waited maybe an hour.

My visa expires every Jan 30. I didn't bother with the letter from the US Consulate, because there were numerous announcements saying those letters are obsolete. I had a year's worth of Bangkok Bank statements (two six-month statements) showing foreign transfers into my account every month. When I went for the most recent statement, I asked for a letter confirming regular monthly deposits from my pension funds. The bank said they are only able to give me confirmation of the current balance. I don't keep 800,000 baht in my account, never have, so declined that letter, thinking it was pointless as I planned to use the monthly income method. That was a minor mistake; more below.

I had my TM7 filled out (photo attached), all necessary copies of passport pages, the bank statements with each monthly deposit highlighted in yellow, quarterly statements from one pension source, and an annual letter from the second source stating the monthly amount of my pension. When my number was called, the IO went through my paperwork. The only thing missing, he said, was the confirmation letter from the bank. I told him my bank didn't know anything about confirming monthly income, only current balance. He said that's what he needs, the rules require it. It's just bureaucratic pointlessness when using the monthly income method, but I wasn't gonna argue. I strolled over to Bangkok Bank at the Airport Mall and was back in half an hour with the letter. By then, it was about 11:30. I went straight back to the IO I had talked to before and gave him the letter. He added it to my papers. I got my photo taken and sat down to wait while the ladies pored over my papers some more. I got my passport back about 12:30.

So not much drama, all very cordial. No letter from our consulate was necessary or even mentioned. Statements from your bank are enough to verify income, as promised.